Balloon control ring

ABSTRACT

A balloon control ring made from an ultrahigh molecular weight polymer having a nonabrasive surface and both friction and heat resistant properties; thus, the ring, when adapted to a spinning frame processing synthetic yarns, permits the attainment of higher spinning speeds without the usual deleterious effects on the balloon control ring.

D United States Patent [151 3,646,746

Murray et al. 1 1 Mar. 7, 1972 [54] BALLOON CONTROL RING 3,299,624 1/1967 Nimtz ..57/108 3,380,240 4/1968 Franzen. 57/106 X [72] Walter 3,203,642 8/1965 Hirst 57/106 x 3,316,703 5/1967 McKelvie ..57/106 [73] Assignee: Impact Plastics Inc., Gastonia, NC. [22] Filed: Mar. 12 1970 Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney-Hunt, Heart & Rhodes [21] Appl. No.: 18,879

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. ..57/108, 242/157 R A banoon comm] ring made from an ultrahigh molecular [51 l 3" Cl 13/04 P 13/12 weight polymer having a nonabrasive surface and both friction [58] Field of Search ..57/106, 107,108, 242/157 R and heat resistant properties; thus, the ring when adapted to a spinning frame processing synthetic yarns, permits the attain- [56] Rderems cued ment of higher spinning speeds without the usual deleterious UNITED STATES PATENTS effects on the balloon control ring.

3,312,405 4/1967 Pray et al. ..57/106 UX 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BALLOON CONTROL RING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION At each yarn processing station of a ring spinning frame of the type commonly in use in the preparation of textile fibers, a yarn strand is first engaged by a series of drafting rolls which elongate the strand as it passes therethrough. A takeup bobbin upon which the yarn is wound is positioned in spaced relation beneath the drafting rolls, and a ring rail having bobbin receiv ing openings therein carries a ring and yarn traveler which guide the yarn onto the bobbin as the rail reciprocates through a vertical path longitudinally of the bobbin. The ring, mounted on the ring rail, encircles the bobbin and provides a circular track of highly polished steel upon which the yarn traveler is positioned for circular movement.

As the elongated yarn strand leaves the drafting rolls, it is pulled forwardly and downwardly at an angle through a yarn guide centered directly over the bobbin. The strand next passes through the yarn traveler, pulling the traveler around the circular track of the ring as the yarn is wound upon the bobbin, thus imparting twist to the yarn. As the twist is being imparted, the yarn tends to extend outwardly forming a balloon between the yarn traveler and the yarn guide, the longitudinal axis of the balloon coinciding with that of the bobbin. The remainder of the spinning frame operation is common in the industry and, therefore, here requires no additional explanation.

Typical methods incorporated to increase productivity or concomitantly decrease cost in connection with the spinning operation include: increasing both the size of the supply package and takeup bobbin, thereby reducing the frequency of replacing each, increasing the amount of elongation imparted to the yarn strand, and increasing the spindle speed.

The employment of this last-named method, i.e., an increase in spindle speed, creates attendant problems caused by an increase in balloon size. As the balloon size increases, there is an increase in the incidence of ends-down from yarn entanglements or from collapse of the balloon or both. The practice of controlling the size and shape of the balloon to lessen its attendant problems at higher spindle speeds is known to the art, and one conventional means of controlling its size and shape is through the use of a balloon control ring strategically located in the yarn path intermediate the yarn guide and the ring rail.

With the use of balloon control rings, further problems are encountered, when processing synthetic yarns and especially the polyester yarn used for tires. Conventional control rings presently in use are manufactured from stainless steel and coated with a 0.002 inch chrome finish, thereby providing a nonabrasive surface for the yarn to contact. However, when control rings of this type are used with synthetic yarns, the chrome finish becomes worn in 4 to 6 weeks, exposing the stainless steel portion of the ring which tends to nick and damage the synthetic yarn. An obvious solution to this problem would appear to be an enthickening of the chrome finish, however this has proven to be prohibitively expensive. Thus, the use of chrome-finished, stainless steel rings has not permitted full enjoyment of the advantages attendant to the higher spindle speeds.

Attempts have been made to substitute such plastics as nylon, delrin, acetols, polyurethanes, and some high-density polyethylenes as a material from which the balloon control ring is manufactured with the hope ofobtaining a ring that will withstand the abrasive character of the synthetic yarn. Such attempts have been unsatisfactory because of the plastics tendency to melt from the frictional heat generated by action of the yarn as it rubs around the ring, or because the high speed of the yarn causes cold flow which produce valleys or irregularities in the ring surface resulting in chatter, uneven packages, and otherwise unsatisfactory conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, on the other hand, is adapted to overcome the problems hcreinbefore described by providing a balloon control ring manufactured from an ultra high molecular weight polymer, having a molecular weight on the order of 500,000 and above, for example, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. Such a material can be fabricated into a balloon control ring having a useful life of three to four times that of stainless steel rings, while, at the same time, providing a nonabrasive inner surface adjacent the yarn which will withstand the frictional forces generated by synthetic yarns. Therefore, a balloon control ring, according to the present invention, when adapted to a conventional spinning frame upon which synthetic yarn strands are being processed, will permit the attainment of higher spindle speeds without the offsetting disadvantages experienced with balloon control rings presently in use.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a bal loon control ring having a nonabrasive yarn engaging surface, adapted for use with synthetic yarns.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plastic balloon control ring, the inner surface of which will withstand the high frictional heat and/or cold flow generated by engagement with synthetic yarn strands being processed at high speeds.

Further objects and purposes of this invention will become apparent from the detailed discussion that follows when read in view of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, partially illustrating one spinning station including a balloon control ring according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one embodiment of a balloon control ring as contemplated by this invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the longitudinal dimension of the balloon control ring taken substantially along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating an alternate embodiment of the balloon control ring shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating still another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of FIG. 5.

Turning now to the drawings, the improved balloon control ring 20 is illustrated environmentally in FIG. I, and is mounted on a frame member 28 extending longitudinally along the spinning frame at a position intermediate ring rail 33 and a yarn guide (not shown). A bobbin 30 extends through an opening in ring rail 33 with the longitudinal axis thereof aligned with the center of the opening in balloon control ring 20. A ring 25 of highly polished steel surrounds the opening in ring rail 33 and has mounted thereon a traveler 24 adapted to be pulled around ring 25 by yarn strand 23 in a well-known manner.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the improved balloon control ring 20 according to the present invention comprises a flat body portion 32 having a circular opening 22 through one end thereof defining an annular ring 21 through which a yarn strand 23 passes in its path between the yarn guide (not shown) and traveler 24 (see FIG. I). The other end of body portion 32 extends laterally from annular ring 21 and forms in tegrally therewith an attaching plate containing an elongated slot 26 through which an attaching means 27 is adapted to secure the balloon control ring to frame member 28 of the spinning frame.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. I-3, outer edges 29 and 29a of attaching plate 32 extend tangentially from ring 21 in parallel relationship to each other to rear edge 31, thereby forming a rectangular attaching plate portion. In one alternative embodiment of this invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the outer edges 29' and 29a converge toward rear edge 31'. In another variation of this invention, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an integral lug 32 of reduced thickness extends laterally from ring 21" forming the attaching plate portion.

To manufacture a balloon control ring of the type herein described, a sheetof an ultrahigh molecular weight polymer of the type having a molecular weight of the order of 500,000 and above, preferably ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, is fabricated by a suitable means such as extruding. Although the dimensions of the extruded sheet are not critical, a thickness of one-fourth inch and a width of at least 6% inches has been found to be satisfactory. After extrusion, the ribbon is cut into rectangular plates, whereupon opening 22 and slot 26 are punched to complete the manufacture. in addition to the previously described method of manufacture, other methods are suitable such as'a flow impression molding process by which the embodiment illustrated in H65. 5 and 6 was manufactured.

Although several specific embodiments have been set forth hereinabove, it should be recognized that various other changes might be made without departing from the scope of the claims which is to be limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved balloon control ring for use with synthetic yarn strands being processed at high speeds on a ring spinning frame, said ring including a yarn receiving opening therethrough for controlling the magnitude of the balloon, at least the surface of the ring surrounding said opening and engaging said yarn strands during the spinning thereof being formed of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene material,

said material being characterized by its nonabrasive surface and its resistance to heat and cold flow normally attendant with polymeric materials at high operating speeds and generated by the abrasive nature of the synthetic yarns.

2. The improved balloon control ring according to claim I and further comprising a means for attaching said ring to the spinning frame at a position intermediate the drafting rolls and the bobbin of said frame.

3. Theimproved balloon control ring according to claim 2 wherein said attaching means comprises a plate member extending outwardly from said ring and connecting said ring with a frame member of said spinning frame.

4. The improved balloon control ring according to claim 2 wherein said attaching means comprises a lug protruding outwardly from said ring and connecting said ring with a frame member of a spinning frame.

- 5. The improved balloon control ring according to claim I wherein said ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene material is further characterized by having a molecular weight of at least 500,000. 

2. The improved balloon control ring according to claim 1 and further comprising a means for attaching said ring to the spinning frame at a position intermediate the drafting rolls and the bobbin of said frame.
 3. The improved balloon control ring according to claim 2 wherein said attaching means comprises a plate member extending outwardly from said ring and connecting said ring with a frame member of said spinning frame.
 4. The improved balloon control ring according to claim 2 wherein said attaching means comprises a lug protruding outwardly from said ring and connecting said ring with a frame member of a spinning frame.
 5. The improved balloon control ring according to claim 1 wherein said ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene material is further characterized by having a molecular weight of at least 500,000. 